Statements at the Meeting with Participants of the Ninth National Conference of 'Tomorrow's Talents'

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Thanks be to God, the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our master Muhammad and his pure family.

First of all, welcome dear youth! Meeting with you is truly energizing and hopeful for someone like me. When one observes young, ready-to-work, determined, and talented faces, the hope that God Almighty has placed in our hearts, thanks be to God, grows and flourishes day by day. We hope, God willing, that all of you and all the youth of this country will receive divine guidance and grace, and be able to be beneficial for the future of your country and, subsequently, for the future of humanity; God willing.

Well, we have a repetitive point that we do not want to dwell on too much, and that is the immense wealth of human resources. The real wealth of a country is its human resources, especially if they are young and intelligent. I have repeatedly spoken in past years about the high level of intelligence of Iranians compared to the world average; some thought this was based on nationalistic feelings and similar sentiments; whereas this was not the case; I had statistical information regarding this matter, and fortunately, in recent years, we hear from well-known figures around the world—even politicians and enemies of the Iranian nation—who, on various occasions, acknowledge the high intelligence quotient of the Iranian nation; 'The excellence is what the enemies have witnessed.' The average intelligence level of our country is higher than the world average; well, we have many young people, thanks be to God; this is a tremendous wealth, a valuable asset, and an opportunity for the country.

Of course, not all countries and regimes around the world view the presence of youth as an opportunity; no, for example, the Pahlavi regime did not see the presence and dynamism of youth as an opportunity; it viewed it as a threat—this is one of those arguments that can be fully substantiated with statistics, but the time is not right here for that—they wanted young people not to be present; neither in scientific, political, nor social spheres, and many things were promoted to weaken this presence. They truly viewed youth as a threat. They sent abroad as many as they could, so that those who were elite, those who were worth something in their eyes, would go and not be here. In the Islamic Republic, it is not like that; the Islamic Republic is self-reliant, endogenous, and knows its power lies within itself, in its spirituality, and in its existence; therefore, the greatest wealth of the Islamic Republic is, in fact, its human resources; that is, these intelligent, committed, interested, educated, and future-oriented young people. Well, this is among our certainties.

Today, as we meet with some of the good youth of our country, I would like to give you a few paternal recommendations. You young people are like my children—some of you are like my children, some like my grandchildren—and it is appropriate for me to share a few points with you in a paternal manner; I also have some managerial and work-related recommendations that I will present, which are related to the work issues concerning you young people; I also have a warning and a fearful observation that I will share with you if, God willing, time permits.

However, the first paternal recommendation I give you is to recognize your existence, that is, this giftedness, as a blessing from God; this is a divine gift, a blessing that God has given you; be grateful to God, increase your connection with God, be thankful to God Almighty, and express this gratitude between yourself and God verbally. This will increase your successes and the divine blessings bestowed upon you; recognize it as coming from God. And recognize it as coming from the Revolution; this is also a perspective and a layer of thought regarding this existence that this great public movement of the country towards science is one of the blessings of the Revolution. If it were not for the Revolution, these things would not exist. Now, Mr. Setari read a memory from me, the continuation of which is that the same airplanes that they told us would be completely grounded for 30 or 31 days are still operational today; today, thirty-some years have passed since that day, our youth in the Air Force, our technical forces, have worked hard, engaged, and—his father was one of those young people of that day—they put their miraculous hands to work, engaged their minds and thoughts, and the same airplanes that we were told would be grounded worked until the end of the war, and they are still operational today; the same 330s, the same F-14s, the same F-4s, the same F-5s are still here and working. The miracle of hands was brought about by the Revolution. Those brothers who told me the work was finished were good people—some of them were martyred—but their thinking was not revolutionary; it was related to the pre-Revolution era, and they looked at it with that perspective. When they wanted to repair the parts of these airplanes, they were not allowed to open the sealed parts—that is, a large part composed of, for example, forty or fifty parts—they would put this sealed part in the airplane, take it to America, have it replaced, and bring it back. That is, the Iranian technician, the Iranian officer was not allowed to touch this part to see what it was and how it should operate; this was the pre-Revolution thinking. The Revolution came and turned the tables; it gave personality to the Iranian, it gave identity, it gave courage, and encouraged him to engage his inner strength. The result has been that we have reached the fifteenth rank in science among all these countries in the world; this is a very significant statement. Among two hundred countries in the world, some of which have two hundred or three hundred years of industrial history and scientific work, Iran, after the Revolution—before the Revolution, there was nothing—despite the pressures of war, sanctions, and all these problems, has managed to reach this level; this was given to us by the Revolution.

Recognize these capabilities, this 'you can do anything' from the Revolution and also from the providers of the country's security. This martyr Hamadani, who was martyred a few days ago, you saw when his body was taken to Hamadan, the whole city came out and mourned for him; this is appreciation. These people do not even have names; some of them become famous and are recognized, but most of them do not have any fame, yet they are preserving security for you and me. If there is no security, there is no university, no research, no elite formation. Where there is no security, in fact, there is nothing; there, the lives of people are under constant and permanent threat. Recognize these preparations, these trainings, these opportunities from these security providers as well. This is my first recommendation. Accept this as a paternal recommendation from an old man to you dear youth, and remember it.

The second recommendation: Prefer a jihadist spirit over a feeling of being a cut above the rest. One of the dangers that befalls those who have a privilege is that they feel they are a cut above the rest, feel they are a head and shoulders above everyone else; this is a great danger, this is a personality danger, a personality disease; do not let this disease grow in you, and the way to prevent it is to strengthen the jihadist spirit and jihadist attitude within yourselves. A jihadist spirit means doing work for God, considering the work as your duty, bringing all forces into the field for the right work; this is the jihadist spirit. To strengthen this jihadist spirit in you, your presence in jihadist camps is very good. Do not say your time is wasted; no, the best and most beneficial use of time is this. Study, conduct your research, do your work, and participate in jihadist camps, which occupy you for a few weeks during the year. This will familiarize you with the people, with the problems and issues of society that often remain unnoticed by officials. Some officials are unaware of the realities of society; they only see a limited radius around themselves; they are not aware of what is happening in the villages, what is happening in distant cities, what is happening in underprivileged families. I have repeatedly experienced this over my long experience of twenty to thirty years; I have seen it in some who I am telling you about; they are unaware of what is happening. You are young now, you have energy, you have patience, you have time, you do not have many worries, take advantage of this opportunity. One of the opportunities is these jihadist camps; these jihadist camps are far better than the camps that, unfortunately, are still common. Although I have warned, some people organize camps to send to Europe; student camps to Europe! One of the most incorrect actions is this; this jihadist camp is far better, more honorable, and more beneficial. Presence in jihadist camps, direct contact with the people, makes you feel responsible. When a person serves directly, the service becomes dear to them; you identify weaknesses.

I make another recommendation; one of the things that happens to our elites is [emigration]; because, as mentioned, our elite youth have many applicants and demands in various countries around the world, for various reasons; one of the reasons is that there are few young people there, or few talented young people, or few foreigners whose greed is low; they want to attract them. An imaginary notion of comfort fills the mind in these situations; it may be imaginary, it may be an illusion, it may indeed be a reality that comfort awaits a person; prefer this place. Instead of digesting yourself in the merciless stomach of foreign societies, become a builder and organizer of the brain, nervous system, and skeleton of your own society. This is honorable; this is dignity; work for your country. You can build your country, you can eliminate its weaknesses; we have many weaknesses. I praise the state of the country a lot, but perhaps no one has as much information as I do about the weaknesses that exist in the country. We know we have many weaknesses; these weaknesses must be addressed; you must address them. You can be the one who designs the correct geometry of health for this country; you can advance part of it. When you go somewhere, even if you get some money, if you get some welfare facilities—assuming they are real—but you will be digested in the greedy stomach of foreign societies; [but] here you can be a source of effect.

The last recommendation—I do not want to make it lengthy—do not be intimidated by the West. It is true that today the Westerners are far ahead of us in terms of science and technology, but do not be intimidated by this advancement. Why? Because you are above them. What you see today as advanced technology and industries and inventions has been in the making for 200 years; you have been in the making for 35 years; your Revolution is 35 years old; you have been able to make this much progress in 35 years and achieve this acceleration in advancements. They were very backward in the first 35 years of their independence; for example, the United States; 35 years after independence from the British, America had nothing. The America of 35 or 40 years after independence is worlds apart from Iran 35 years after the victory of the Revolution; you are far ahead of them. The lifespan of their material civilization will be far less than yours if you want to reach this level of material civilization; now apart from spirituality. Do not be intimidated by them. One hundred years after the Americans' victory over the British army and American independence, this famous Statue of Liberty was built. This statue was not built by Americans—if my memory serves me right, I saw it long ago—this statue was designed and built by a French engineer who came from France. That is, one hundred years after independence, Americans had not yet reached the scientific, technical, and industrial level to be able to build this Statue of Liberty; an engineer from France came, designed it, and built it. You are far ahead; do not be intimidated. Your capabilities are far more potent in potential than theirs; move forward, take action.

The youth generation of our time, that is you, can register this honor for yourselves that you are the youth generation that was able to bring the country to great stages of scientific advancement; this honor is a very great honor. Today's youth can earn this honor for themselves that instead of being a mere follower of others, they have been able to firmly establish the foundations of scientific independence and advancement in this country with dignity and work hard. This honor can be for the youth generation of our time and the early periods of the Revolution; well, these are our recommendations to you dear ones, brothers, sisters, my dear children, and dear youth.

A few recommendations are also managerial and work-related, which both the responsible brothers in the Elite Foundation and you yourselves are the audience of these recommendations. The first is that the Elite Foundation must be taken seriously; the Elite Foundation is a national foundation; it is a strategic foundation; this must be taken very seriously. I have heard that some of the work of the Elite Foundation is being entrusted to universities; this is not advisable. If universities could do the work of the Elite Foundation, we would not have established this foundation at all. Some of our universities are truly outstanding; they are centers of elites, but they cannot do the work of the Elite Foundation. The work of the university is something else; the work of the Elite Foundation is something else. Take the foundation very seriously; it is a national foundation, a strategic foundation; both the officials of the foundation and the officials of the country, whether the planning and budget organization, the relevant ministers, the scientific councils, and so on that exist, and you young people. The foundation is very important.

My second recommendation is that the programs of the Elite Foundation should be such that the young elite feels that their existence is useful. Now I will also reach you young people; you also have a role and can play a role in this regard. A field of work must be created for the young elite; they must feel useful; feeling useful encourages them to continue on their path; just as it encourages them to stay in their own home and in their own country and work for their own country. Create a field of work; how to create a field of work? One issue is completing the educational process. Young people should be able to complete their educational process; their presence in higher scientific levels should be facilitated; their education should be elevated. There may be cumbersome regulations in this regard; these regulations should not be an obstacle.

One issue is the formation of knowledge-based companies, which I will discuss later. These knowledge-based companies are very good. Of course, today I am aware that there are thousands of knowledge-based companies in the country, but the number that currently exists can increase tenfold; tenfold. Young people, those who have scientific products, their presence in knowledge-based companies is beneficial.

Creating scientific hubs in universities with the focus on distinguished professors; one of the tasks is this. This foundation can carry out this work in connection with universities. Scientific hubs should be formed in various universities; the focus should be one or several distinguished professors. Of course, the professors must be caring; the professors must be committed; they must love Iran. We know professors—of course, I know them from afar—who do not love Iran; the prosperity of Iran, the future of Iran is not important to them; such a professor is of no use. I cannot hope for such a professor in my heart; a professor who does not love his country, a professor who does not love the unity of his country, a professor who says something in class—even if it is not related to the subject of the lesson—that results in ethnic disputes in the country and leads the student in that direction, this professor is not a desirable professor. A professor who, if he feels a religious commitment in a student, finds himself in conflict with them, this professor is not a good professor. Professors who are committed, caring, love their country, love their Revolution, and are academically distinguished, if scientific hubs are formed around such professors, this is very useful; it motivates the student and makes the student feel that they are useful, they are progressing.

Scientific associations; ultimately, the young elite must have the opportunity to emerge and be recognized, feel that their existence is valued, that they are counted on; this must be felt in practice. Then, the Elite Foundation primarily and now other devices alongside it should monitor and observe the output of the work; because if the output of the work has defects, it is clear that there is a problem somewhere along the way; they should recognize the defects and remedy them. One of my important recommendations is this.

Another recommendation I make in this regard is related to the resistant economy. Well, you know that the resistant economy, which thanks be to God has been raised, its policies have been announced, has been welcomed by economic and political experts, etc. The name of the resistant economy is often repeated; now how much progress has been made in the country regarding the resistant economy is not my discussion now—I am, of course, not very pleased with the amount of progress of this important thought and foundation in the country, but there is a movement—[however] one of the solid foundations of the resistant economy is the knowledge-based economy; the basis of work in the resistant economy is the knowledge-based economy; [because] the resistant economy is endogenous, it is an economy that has solid foundations within that cannot be uprooted by international and global economic shocks; this is the resistant economy. One of the most fundamental foundations of this economy is a knowledge-based economy; an economy that relies on science is very important. Well, in our opinion, young elites can play a role in the knowledge-based economy, which is in fact the main pillar of the resistant economy. How can they play a role? Well, this requires design. How can our young people play a role in the resistant economy? I want your answer to this question; sit down and design; do not wait for others to design. You young elites should set this topic in one of your gatherings: how young elites can play a role in the resistant economy or knowledge-based economy. Groups should be formed, groups should be divided, work should be done, thoughts should be exchanged, and with full hands, participate in this gathering, pave the way, and then the Elite Foundation should support and back this plan that has emerged from within the elites; in my opinion, a transformation will occur; both in terms of thinking and working, and in terms of reality on the ground; certainly, a transformation will occur in the economy as well.

One more point—this is the last point—is the issue of identifying and nurturing top talents in education. Well, this 'Shahab' plan, they mentioned, is a good plan. I have heard that the Shahab plan has been neglected and overlooked; do not let it be, take care of it. Identifying top talents during primary and secondary education is very important; this is what introduces true elites to us, this is what introduces geniuses to us. Well, geniuses are few in every society; many geniuses are rendered completely ineffective due to being unknown; they are digested, they vanish; because they have not been identified. Sometimes one observes an illiterate person in a village saying something, doing something that indicates genius; if this person were nurtured, if they were identified, if their talent were utilized and taken into account, they would have been a prominent individual; [but] unfortunately, they have not been recognized. Do not let this loss occur to the country. This is a very important task in the education sector; follow up on this plan. The honorable minister should really investigate the status of the Shahab plan and whether it is carrying out its tasks or not.

However, what I see as a warning, a danger: we have discouraging elements within the country; be careful; officials should be vigilant. How do they discourage? They negate the existences. Now, the scientific centers that introduce the indicators of scientific progress in the world are specific centers that you all know. They give a testimony in favor of the Islamic Republic; these gentlemen inside the country, either in newspapers and magazines or in official and unofficial platforms, deny these achievements, they consider them illusions! which we sometimes hear. [This is] not an illusion, it is a reality. Stem cells are a reality, advanced nanotechnology is a reality, nuclear advancements are a reality; the whole world knows this; [but these] deny it. Now, one day, about fifteen or sixteen years ago, if someone denied it, it was not a problem, [because] it was the beginning of the work, they were unaware; [but] today the whole world knows—meaning the centers that should know—that Iran is making rapid progress in a great movement in the path of science and technology; the whole world knows this, and then some come to discourage our youth; both discouragement from the present and discouragement from the future; [that is, they say] 'What is the benefit? For whom? For what?' These are discouraging; these are treasonous. Whoever does this is committing treason. If a manager does this, it is treason; if a professor does this, it is treason; if a newspaper or magazine writer does this, it is treason; it is treason against the country, treason against national honor.

Another danger: identifying elites for external factors; this also exists; I have reports and news about this; they investigate, search, and find the elites; not to encourage them inside, to nurture them; [but] for external factors, to introduce them, to become intermediaries for the emigration of elites and, in common parlance, 'brain drain.' This is also treason; this is treason; this may even be done under the guise of concern for this student, but this is not concern. That we encourage a student and say, 'What is here? Who pays attention to you? Go there, live, move forward, progress'—this is treason, this is turning one's back on the country and the interests of the country and the future of the country and forcing a young elite to do this.

One of the warnings that ministers should really pay attention to is the confrontation with committed and revolutionary elements in universities. There are elements committed to the Revolution, adhering to the Revolution, committed to religious matters and religious appearances; those who have a conflict with such elements, with such young people, with a boy or girl who is committed and adheres, from the officials—now among the students, there are various tastes, and that is fine; there may be some disputes among them, it does not matter; it is the university environment—this is not acceptable; committed elements should be encouraged. Now, there are such issues.

My summary of all these words is a reasoned optimism regarding the future; not just slogans, not just rhetoric; the reality is this. The future of the country, with God's grace, with the favor of the Lord, is a good future; the multitude of the youth of this country have many elites among them; now the main elites are academic elites, there are also elites in other sectors who, although they are not academic, are truly elites in the true sense of the word, and they can play a role. And these elites will do their work; they will feel responsible. Thanks be to God, revolutionary goals and revolutionary slogans are alive; the enemy has not been able to diminish the revolutionary slogans; it is such that if some are not internally aligned with these slogans, they must accompany them in speech due to public opinion, due to the hearts of the people and the presence of the people. The slogans are, thanks be to God, alive; the revolutionary movement is a living movement, and this is one of the exceptions in history; we do not know of any revolution in the world that, over 35 or 40 years, with all this opposition, with all this enmity, has been able to continue its direct line and its straight path; it does not exist. Even the great revolutions you know in the world—now we are not talking about these small transformations and coups and such that are called revolutions; they are not even included in the account—and the real revolutions that have occurred have not been able to continue their path; their goals have changed. This is also what angers our enemies; this is why today—if you are familiar with foreign news—you repeatedly hear that it is said that as long as Iran pursues the Revolution, our work with Iran will be problematic; they are right. And I add that as long as this revolutionary thought and revolutionary movement exists, with God's grace, Iran's progress, Iran's increasing influence, and the spiritual and moral dominance of Iran in the region and beyond will, God willing, increase day by day. Thank you very much; apparently, this takbir was also an announcement of the end of the session!

May God, God willing, protect you; God willing, all of you will be blessed for the future of the Revolution, and God willing, thirty years, forty years, fifty years from now, when this country is in your hands, belongs to you, you will proudly remember these days that you were able to be placed in this line and kept steadfast and, with a better future, God willing, you will be granted success.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.